Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin admits that two first half goals were their undoing against Kildare in the opening game of the National League Division 2 campaign.

The Midlanders went down to Kildare after the Lilywhites scored two goals in the second quarter of the match and they were never to be headed after that.

Cribbin explained to the Westmeath Examiner that he felt a number of his players were very flat on the day, while he was forced to withdraw defender Frank Boyle very late on.

"The two goals we conceded were disappointing. Lads backed off instead of stopping the runner. We learned a tough lesson from them," said Cribbin.

He added: "In the warm-up, Frank (Boyle) got concussion and we couldn't take a chance on it. It took the wind out of Shane (Dempsey) as well. We thought he was ok, but he just wasn't himself at all. It upset the lads a bit and we didn't start as well as we should have with the wind."

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